154 [Feb., 1847. 



Remarks on the Birds observed in Upper California. 



By "William Gameel. 

 (Continued from page, 115.) 



PASSERES. 

 Genus *CHAM.A.f 

 Bill short, tapering to the point, acute and compressed. Both mandibles 

 entire, ridge of upper elevated, and curving nearly from the base ; the de- 

 pression for the nostrils large, oval, and exposed ; the nostrils opening be- 

 neath a membrane in the depression. Wings very short and much rounded. 

 Tail very long and graduated. Tarsus long. 



Chamesa fasciata, Nobis. Ground Tit. 



Parus fasciatus, nobis, Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sc., vol. 2, p. 265. 



This interesting bird, placed provisionally among the Titmice, I have now 

 made the type of a new genus, not being able, as yet, to find a suitable place 

 for it, among those already described. 



For several months before discovering the bird, I chased among the fields 

 of dead mustard stalks, the weedy margins of streams, low thickets and 

 bushy places, a continued, loud, crepitant, grating scold, which I took for 

 that of some species of wren, but at last found to proceed from this Wren- 

 Tit, if it might so be called. It is always difficult to be seen, and keeps in 

 such places as I have described, close to the ground; eluding pursuit, by' 

 diving into the thickest bunches of weeds and tall grass, or tangled bushes 

 uttering its grating wren-like note whenever an approach is made towards it. 



But if quietly watched, it may be seen, when searching for insects, to 

 mount the twigs and dried stalks of grass sideways, jerking its long tail, and 

 keeping it erect like a wren, which, with its short wings, in such a position 

 it so much resembles. At the same time uttering a very slow, monotonous, 

 singing, chickadee note, like pee pee pee pee peep ; at other times its notes are 

 varied, and a slow whistling, contmuedpwit,pwit, pwit, pwit,pwit, pwit, may 

 be heard. Again, in pleasant weather towards spring, I have heard them 

 answering one another, sitting upon a low twig, and singing in a less solemn 

 strain, not unlike a sparrow, a lively pit, pit, pit, tr r r r r r r r, but if dis- 

 turbed, at once resumining their grating scold. 



Pants inornatus, Nobis. Plain Titmouse. Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sc, vol. 

 2, p. 265. 



The Plain Titmouse I first discovered near Monterey on the 20th of 

 November. It was actively flitting about among the evergreen oaks of the 

 vicinity, in company with large flocks of the Chestnut-backed and Least 

 Titmouse, all in restless activity, searching every branch for insects. 



Among the busy throng I could not well distinguish its notes, but they 

 appeared to resemble very much those of the common Black-cap, and on 

 my following it up, uttered a loud scold, erecting its high and pointed crest; 

 and looking as angry as possible at the intrusion. 



j- From ^a^a/, on the ground. 



